Book Review: Thriving with Adult ADHD

Hello everyone! For this blog post I will be sharing things that I highlighted in the book Thriving with Adult ADHD: Skills to Strengthen Executive Functioning- Get Focused and Achieve Your Goals written by Phil Boissiere, MFT (2018). I won’t lie, I am only about a third of the way through this book so far… so you should expect a part two for this book review!

General Overview:

            This book aims to help adults who struggle with ADHD understand their diagnosis and learn ways to help strengthen their skills. This book is laid out in a very strategic and categorized way. After the introduction, the book is separated into sections designed to target specific executive functioning concerns. This book discusses things like memory and attention, organizing and planning, mental flexibility, emotional regulation, and impulse control. Within each section of the book, the author gives both helpful tips and practice exercises for the reader to practice. Each exercise is designed to help the person with ADHD practice strengthening their executive functioning skills.

Initial thoughts:

            So far, it has been a quick, easy, and informative read. The book begins with explaining ADHD symptoms in realistic ways that work to make the reader feel seen and understood. I also love how the book takes time to explain how the human brain works in a way that is accessible and easy to understand. I also really enjoy the layout of the book. If you are looking to work on a specific area of executive functioning, you can easily find the section most suited for you and start working!

Things that I highlighted and why:

            There are many things that I have highlighted in this book so far (and I’m only halfway through!). Below will be a short summary of what I highlighted and why I think that it could be helpful for those with ADHD.

Highlight #1: Explanations of how the ADHD brain works (specifically with neurotransmitters and memory).

Explanation:

This book beautifully defines and describes how neurotransmitters work in an ADHD brain. To sum it up, the book discusses how dopamine and norepinephrine are important for achieving goals and blocking out unwanted stimuli. For people with ADHD, these neurotransmitters are either not being produced or are not being used in the brain. I enjoy how this book gives a description of how these neurotransmitters work, but makes a statement that let’s us know that they are not the whole picture.

            This book also has a great explanation for how working memory is involved in ADHD. The book explains how working memory is involved in remembering what you are doing right now. In real life, someone who struggles with their working memory may seem forgetful or have a hard time following step-by step orders. The book even discusses how smartphones impact memory!

Highlight #2: Tips for helping to strengthen your working memory

Explanation:

            One of the tips that this book gives for helping people with ADHD maintain information in their working memory is to say what they are doing before they go and do something else. For example: if you are doing the dishes, but someone calls you on the phone… you will say to yourself “I am putting the clean dishes away” before answering the phone.

            I think that this skill is one that is great for teens and adults. Something like this, though it may seem silly to say out loud, can really help to minimize distractions from tasks that need to be done. I think that the important thing with this step is to be kind to yourself! Each skills takes practice and you may not get it on the first try. In fact, another skill that this book offers is “check your mindset”. This means that you should go into situations (both practice and real life) with an “I can do it” attitude. By reminding yourself that you have the tools that you need, you will be more likely to be successful in reaching your goal. This book offers exercises to practice at home to help strengthen these skills.

Highlight #3: Write it down!

Explanation:

This is a tip that the book offers to help increase memory. Often when being given instructions, it can seem easy to say “I’ll remember this, no worries! It’s common sense”. However, writing down specific instructions can be important to ensuring that you remember each step. For example, if a parent is asking their kid to clean their room by picking up their toys, wiping down their desk, making their bed, and picking up their laundry… it may seem simple! Writing down instructions can make it easier on your working memory. The book also suggests not getting caught up in the details! Getting the big picture, at least to start, is a great way to support your memory.

Conclusion:

            So far, I really enjoy this book! I think that it has many good and practical tips for helping with executive functioning. Stay tuned and I will continue to add more of my favorite highlights!

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Written By,

Jordan Adamson, LPC

www.cuttingedge-therapy.com